Ralph Waldo Emerson Quotes
1803–1882 United States
Ralph Waldo Emerson (25 May 1803 – 27 April 1882) was an American philosopher, essayist, and poet.
- United States
- 19th-century poets
- Academics
- Deaths
- Educators
Also known as: Emerson, Emerson, Ralph Waldo, Representative Men
Random Ralph Waldo Emerson quote
583 quotes
The difference between landscape and landscape is small, but there is a great difference in the beholders.
Nature never sends a great man into the planet, without confiding the secret to another soul.
Thought is the seed of action; but action is as much its second form as thought is its first.
Nature magically suits the man to his fortunes, by making these the fruit of his character.
How we hate this solemn Ego that accompanies the learned, like a double, wherever he goes.
Journals (1822)
People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
We are as much informed of a writer's genius by what he selects as by what he originates.
Letters and Social Aims (1876)
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.
But genius looks forward: the eyes of men are set in his forehead, not in his hindhead: man hopes: genius creates.
The American Scholar (1837)
The book written against fame and learning has the author's name on the title-page.
Journals (1822)
Extremes meet, and there is no better example than the haughtiness of humility.
Letters and Social Aims (1876)
There are two classes of poets — the poets by education and practice, these we respect; and poets by nature, these we love.
Parnassus (1874)
The conscious utterance of thought, by speech or action, to any end, is art.
The best effect of fine persons is felt after we have left their presence.
Journals (1822)
And striving to be man, the worm
Mounts through all the spires of form.
May-Day and Other Pieces (1867)
Repose and cheerfulness are the badge of the gentleman,—repose in energy.
Do not craze yourself with thinking, but go about your business anywhere.
A great part of courage is the courage of having done the thing before.
The orator is thereby an orator that he keeps his feet ever on a fact.
Our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we can.